temperature gauge 320 (E30)

[Strawb]

I have a small problem with my newly acquired BMW E30 320i coupe, the temperature gauge does not seem to be working I have checked the fuses, and the other gauges on the display work e.g. Speedo fuel gauge rev counter etc what could this be?

James

[DelaneyG]

Alrite mate it could be the engine coolant temperature sensor the way to check it is to look under the bonnet for the thermostat housing, it sits next to the distributer cap, when you,ve found that youl see two connector plugs a blue one an a brown one unplug the brown one and stick a bit of wire or a splilt pin in it to join the terminals to make the circuit when youve done that turn the ignition on and the temp gauge should go right up to the red if it does its the sensor, their not hard to change and their only about £10-£15 if not it could be the gauge itself or theirs a computer behind the dash that tends to go tits up hope that helps.

[Strawb]

Alrite mate it could be the engine coolant temperature sensor the way to check it is to look under the bonnet for the thermostat housing, it sits next to the distributer cap, when you,ve found that youl see two connector plugs a blue one an a brown one unplug the brown one and stick a bit of wire or a splilt pin in it to join the terminals to make the circuit when youve done that turn the ignition on and the temp gauge should go right up to the red if it does its the sensor, their not hard to change and their only about £10-£15 if not it could be the gauge itself or theirs a computer behind the dash that tends to go tits up hope that helps.

hi i was told this method before but was told to change the blue one, so i did. no wonder the guage still doesent work.

Thanks

[Brianmoooore]

unplug the brown one and stick a bit of wire or a splilt pin in it to join the terminals to make the circuit when youve done that turn the ignition on and the temp gauge should go right up to the red .

Nearly right, but not quite. The brown plug only has one terminal in it, so you can't link it across.
Use a piece of wire to short the single socket to a stud on the cylinder head. Be carefull you don't permanently spread the blades of the socket, so that they will no longer make proper contact with the pin in the sensor.

[Strawb]

unplug the brown one and stick a bit of wire or a splilt pin in it to join the terminals to make the circuit when youve done that turn the ignition on and the temp gauge should go right up to the red .

Nearly right, but not quite. The brown plug only has one terminal in it, so you can't link it across.
Use a piece of wire to short the single socket to a stud on the cylinder head. Be carefull you don't permanently spread the blades of the socket, so that they will no longer make proper contact with the pin in the sensor.

on my car the brown has two terminals and the blue has one, i have already tried both of them and no sucess

[Brianmoooore]

On a M20B20 engine the blue temp sensor has two pins, and the brown one has one pin. Brown temp sensor on an M50 has two pins though.
Sounds like you may have some wrong parts fitted.
Another possibility for no temp gauge (and other problems) is corrossion in a round plug and socket fixed to the metalwork beneath the middle of the inlet manifold.

[Strawb]

On a M20B20 engine the blue temp sensor has two pins, and the brown one has one pin. Brown temp sensor on an M50 has two pins though.
Sounds like you may have some wrong parts fitted.
Another possibility for no temp gauge (and other problems) is corrossion in a round plug and socket fixed to the metalwork beneath the middle of the inlet manifold.

looks like i have on your car is the brown sensor bellow the blue sensor? the guy who had it before me fukced about with things any help would be apreciated. a guy on pistonheads forum sent me a link for a electrical fault finding guide but it doesent download. i have a haynes manule but that doesent give much joy. do you know of a electrical fault finding manule

[DelaneyG]

I have a 320i and i checked my temp sender before i emailed it does have 2 pins, the brown one is ment to be above the blue, i cant see how we could both have the wrong parts fitted as mine works, i have BMW TIS disk i can have a look onit for fault finding for you<, what year is your car?

[Strawb]

I have a 320i and i checked my temp sender before i emailed it does have 2 pins, the brown one is ment to be above the blue, i cant see how we could both have the wrong parts fitted as mine works, i have BMW TIS disk i can have a look onit for fault finding for you<, what year is your car?

i just solved the problem. after i read the posts about the connectors being in different locations on other bmw's i decided to check it out, the brown and blue connections were connected the wrong way round by the previous owner, all seems weel now thanks for your help and my car is a 1990